This survey is designed as a vehicle for feedback and input for the Language Arts Literacy program evaluation.
Directions: Using the rating scales, check the descriptor you believe best indicates the conditions of the current program and curriculum. The last three sections are to be answered by specific teachers in the areas of RTI/MLS, Special Education, and AI/E group. Fill out all areas that pertain to your area of teaching and expertise, and please continue until you reach the “Thank You” message at the end of the survey.

Background Information

What is your current grade level? (Check one)

Grade 5
Grade 6
Grade 7
Grade 8

Which of the following best describes your current position? (Check one)

General Education Teacher
Special Education Teacher
Bilingual/ELL/ESL Teacher
IS (MLS)/Resource Teacher
Other (specify)

Which category reflects your years of teaching experience? (Check one)

Less than 5 years
5-10 years
11-15 years
15 or more years


The Curriculum


1) To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?

Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
The curriculum supports a balanced/comprehensive literacy approach.




I find it easy to locate instructional strategies in the curriculum guide.






2) How effectively does the curriculum guide provide instructional strategies to support the following components?


Strongly Effective
Effective
Ineffective
Strongly Ineffective
Read Alouds




Shared Reading




Guided Reading




Book Club Discussions




Sustained Silent/ Independent Reading




Modeled Writing




Shared Writing




Interactive Writing




Guided Writing




Independent Writing




Think Alouds




Mini-lessons




Prewriting




Drafting




Editing




Revising




Conferencing




Inquiry




Connecting Reading and Writing




Visual Aids




Graphic Organizers




Word Sorts




Fluency




Differentiation




Students with reading difficulties




Grammar




Spelling




English Language Learners







Materials/Resources

3a) To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?


Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
The books in my school support my teaching.




There are books available in my school to support teaching reading strategies.




I often feel the need to purchase my own materials to supplement instruction.






3b) To what extent do the texts and materials, available in your school, support the needs of your students? Also, rate the quality of the materials.


Strongly Effective
Effective
Ineffective
Strongly Ineffective
Multicultural
Supports Teaching
Good condition
Not-applicable
Leveled Texts (for small groups)








Periodicals








Novels








Grade-Level Author Collections








Picture Books








~for comprehension strategies








~for writer's craft








Dictionaries








Thesaurus








Classroom Libraries








Audio Books








Computer Software











Assessment

4) To what extent are the following assessments effective for assessing and evaluating your students?

Strongly Effective
Effective
Ineffective
Strongly Ineffective
QRI-4




Interest Inventory




Major Point Interview for Readers




Individual Conferencing/Observation Notes




Reader Self-Reflection




Reading Comprehension Strategies Rubric




Open-ended Reading Response Rubric




Book Club Discussion Rubric




Independent Reading Response Rubric




Other – please specify:





Word Study Assessments

4a) To what extent are the following assessments effective for assessing and evaluating your students?


Strongly Effective
Effective
Ineffective
Strongly Ineffective
DSA (Words their Way)




Feature Inventory Assessment






Writing Assessments

4b) To what extent are the following assessments effective for assessing and evaluating your students?



Strongly Effective
Effective
Ineffective
Strongly Ineffective
Anecdotal Records for Writing




Holistic Scoring Rubric




Major Point Interview for Writers




Interest Inventory







4c) To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?


Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
I understand the difference between assessment and evaluation.




The curriculum provides strategies or tools for evaluating student work.










Professional Development


5a) To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?

“The professional development opportunities I attended…

Strongly
Effective
Effective
Ineffective
Strongly
Ineffective
supported building my knowledge base.”




were aligned with my teaching goals.”




were aligned with my level of experience.”




taught me new instructional strategies that were useful.”




gave me tools to support students with reading difficulties.”




gave me tools to support students with writing difficulties.”




emphasized individual differences in student learning.”








5b) To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?
“ _ was a beneficial professional-development opportunity for me this school year.”


Strongly
Effective
Effective
Ineffective
Strongly
Ineffective
Collaborative Learning Group




Curriculum Mondays




Bridgewater-Raritan Teachers College (CEU Courses)




District In-Service Professional Development Days (Columbus Day & Dr. Martin L. King Day




Coaching/Demonstration Lessons





5c) During the past year have you …

No
Yes
Received individual coaching or mentoring


Observed demonstrations of teaching techniques


Participated in Out-of-District Workshops


Used professional texts, videos to enrich your knowledge


District Personnel/Administrators





5d) In which areas of the Language Arts Curriculum would you like to receive more support?
Check all that apply.


Guided Reading

Study

Writing Workshop

Interactive Writing

Guided Writing

Enrichment

Differentiated Instruction

Grammar

Vocabulary


Shared Reading

Reading Workshop

Read Alouds

Book Clubs

Word Wall

Reciprocal Teaching

Assessments

Other:



5e) Evaluate whether each of the following professional development practices are beneficial?


Yes
No
Observing model teachers in-district



Observing model teachers out-of-district



Grade-level collaboration time



Release time for curriculum training sessions



Inviting out-of-district experts in for staff development



Full professional Development Days



Other ___





Reading Instruction

  1. What changes would you like to see in the current reading program?




  1. To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following?


Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Novel-based instruction is the most effective way to structure the LAL classroom.




Anthology-based instruction is the most effective way to structure the LAL classroom.




Thematic units are a good way to structure the reading curriculum.




Genre is a good way to structure the reading curriculum.




There are enough supplemental materials (short story, poetry, nonfiction texts, etc.) available to support the reading curriculum.




Allowing for student choice enhances delivery of the reading curriculum.




Guided reading is necessary at my grade level.




Guided reading books are appropriate to instruct students at my grade level.




There are enough novels for teachers to use.




Novels are available when I need them.




Materials are available at appropriate reading levels for all students.




There are resources available for me to use with students who are not reading at grade level.




Most students need direct instruction on the reading strategies at my grade level.




Having core novels for each grade level is important.




I have enough time to complete all required components of the reading curriculum.




There are clear benchmarks articulated in the curriculum for reading evaluation.




I know what reading skills students should have by the end of the school year.






Writing Instruction

1. To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following?



Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
There are enough resources to teach all the forms of writing: Narrative, Expository, Persuasive, Descriptive.




There is adequate time to meet all learning objectives designated for my grade level.




I have knowledge of all forms of writing.




I know how to effectively plan each unit of writing.




I have enough time to teach writing daily.




I understand the writing workshop model and how to implement it in my classroom.




The curriculum guide provides support for writing process instruction.




The curriculum guide provides mini-lessons to meet individual needs of students.





2. I have a solid understanding of:

Guided Writing




Independent Writing




Mini-lessons




The Writing Process




Conferencing






3. Please respond to the following:

The curriculum is effective at supporting your teaching of
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Descriptive Writing




Narrative Writing




Expository Writing




Persuasive Writing






4. Do you currently include explicit grammar instruction in your class? Consider the following and respond.


Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
I understand grammar very well and am confident in teaching it to my students.




I currently understand the scope and sequence for grammar instruction K-8.




The curriculum supports my grammar instruction.




There are enough resources and materials available for grammar instruction.





Special Education Specialists/Inclusion Teachers only:

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?





















Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
The Language Arts Literacy curriculum guide supports differentiated instruction for your independent students.




You have appropriate materials for extending reading instruction for your independent students.




You have appropriate materials for extending writing instruction for your independent students.




You have appropriate materials for extending word study/vocabulary instruction for your independent students.




The Language Arts Literacy curriculum guide targets skills for academically independent/E level students.




The allotted time periods are appropriate for extending literacy instruction in the classroom?




The self-contained environment allows you additional time for extending literacy instruction/ activities in the classroom.









Thank you for your time in filling out this survey!
Your responses will greatly assist the evaluation committee as it examines the current 5-8 program and makes recommendations for the future.